Australia is a beautiful country offering a high quality of life to people from all over the world. It has a strong and stable economy which ensures a high employment rate in the country. The country is recognized for its immigrant-friendly atmosphere, embracing social equality in its multicultural society. The advantages to living with family in Australia are that it offers quality healthcare, the outdoor lifestyle is safe and the crime rate is very low. Living in Australia offers a significant advantage for Indians due to the sizable Indian community present. This not only provides a support system but also helps maintain cultural connections, making the transition to a new country smoother and more enjoyable.
Additionally, Australia was also ranked 10th on the World Happiness Index 2024 by the United Nations. Australia’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive nation is well-deserved, making it a top choice for individuals seeking a high quality of life in a dynamic and thriving environment.
For those residents who wish to bring their parents with them to experience everything that Australia has to offer, there are a range of parent visas available. These parent visas cater to individuals who wish to bring their parents to Australia to spend quality time together and experience the beauty of the country. From the Contributory Parent Visa to the Sponsored Parent Visa, there are options available to suit different needs and circumstances.
If you are considering applying for an Australia Parent visa, it is crucial to go through a MARA Agent. They possess the necessary authority and expertise regarding Australian Parent visas and are well-informed about Australia Immigration policies. For assistance with your Australia Parent visa application, you can reach out to West Highlander. Ms Parwinder Kaur, the Director, is a MARA Agent and a proficient Australian Parent visas consultant. This article on Know about Australian Parent visas (Subclass 173, 143 and 870) has been crafted under her guidance.
Types of Australian Parent Visas
Australia offers three major types of Parent Visas for the residents of Australia. These three major types of Parent Visas in Australia cater to different circumstances and requirements. The Contributory Parent Visa is suitable for those who wish to join their children in Australia permanently. The Parent Visa allows parents to live in Australia for extended periods to be with their children who are citizens or permanent residents. Additionally, the Sponsored Parent Visa is designed for parents who wish to join their children in Australia temporarily. Each of these visa options provides a pathway for families to reunite and create lasting memories together in the beautiful land down under. The major types of Australia Parent Visa Are:
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870)
- Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 173)
- Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143)
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870)
The Sponsored Parent visa (Subclass 870) is a temporary visa designed for the parents of Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents to visit their children in Australia. To be eligible for the Sponsored Parent visa, applicants must have a sponsor who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The sponsor must also meet certain financial requirements to support their parent during their stay in Australia. One of the key benefits of this visa is that it allows parents to stay for a longer period compared to other visitor visas. Parents can also enter and leave Australia multiple times during the validity of the visa, providing them with the flexibility to travel back to their home country if needed. If you are considering applying for this visa, it’s advisable to seek professional advice to understand the requirements and process involved. West Highlander offers comprehensive visa services from start to finish. Our team is dedicated to assisting you through every step of the visa application process. With our expertise in Australia Parent Visa services, we ensure that your application is handled with care and precision.
Duration: The duration per visa is 3 to 5 years and it can be extended a maximum of up to 10 years by applying for further visas. During those 3 to 5 years of visa, visa holder parents can travel in and out of Australia infinite times.
Cost: The cost of a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) for 3 years is AUD 5,735, which is approx. INR 31 Lakhs. For 5 years AUD 11,470, which is approx. INR 62 Lakhs. Applicants pay for this visa in two instalments.
Processing Time: The processing time for this visa is one of the fastest among Australia Parent Visa, which is 4 to 5 months. According to the Australian Govt. Immigration and Citizenship, 90 % of Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) applications are processed in 4 to 5 months and 50% of applications are processed in 2 to 3 months.
Conditions: Some of the important conditions of this visa are:
- The parent cannot work in Australia with this visa
- The parent needs to apply for a visa from outside of Australia
Requirements: There are some requirements that the applicants and their sponsor children need to fulfil to apply for this visa category.
- Applicant needs to have an approved parent sponsor. A parent sponsor can only sponsor 2 parent at a time.
- Meet the health requirements and also obtain Health Insurance.
- Applicant must be of good character with no criminal record, proved through a Police Clearance Certificate
- Funds to support the stay and living expenses while in Australia
- Must have a genuine intention to temporarily stay in Australia
- Apply from outside of Australia and submit the visa application within 6 months of sponsorship approval.
Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 173)
The Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 173) is a temporary visa that allows parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents to live in Australia for up to two years. It provides parents with the opportunity to spend time with their children and grandchildren in Australia. During their stay, visa holders can also work and study in the country. It’s important to note that holders of the Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 173) have the option to apply for a permanent Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143) before their temporary visa expires, allowing them to remain in Australia permanently. This visa allows holders to access healthcare services under Medicare and enjoy the diverse Australian lifestyle.
Duration: The duration of this visa is up to 2 years and during that period applicants can travel in and out of Australia infinite times. Applicants cannot reapply or extend this visa.
Cost: The cost of a Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 173) is AUD 32,340, which is approx. 17.6 Lakhs in Indian Rupees. Applicants pay for this visa in two instalments.
Processing Time: The processing time for this visa is somewhat extended due to the high demand for this visa category, as it could potentially lead to a contributory permanent visa. The 2017 applications are still queued. The estimated processing time for this visa category is around 12 Years.
Benefits: There are some major benefits of this visa category:
- Applicant can work as well as study during these 2 years in Australia
- They are eligible to enrol in Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
- Further they can submit an application for the Permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143).
- The main applicant can also include other family members in the application.
- Applicants are eligible to apply for the visa whether they are inside or outside Australia.
Conditions: Some key conditions of this visa include:
- Applicant should not have applied for or currently hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa.
- Applicant needs to arrive in Australia by the date mentioned in your grant letter.
- If additional family members are part of the application with the main applicant, they must share the same physical location as the main, which can be either inside or outside of Australia.
Requirements: Applicants and their sponsored children must meet specific requirements to be eligible for this visa category.
- The applicant must be sponsored to apply for this visa
- They are required to fulfil the balance-of-family test. According to this test, applicants must ensure that at least half of their children and step-children qualify as eligible children. Alternatively, they can apply if more eligible children of the applicant are living in Australia than in any other single country.
- Meet the health requirements
- Applicant must be of good character with no criminal record, proved through a Police Clearance Certificate
- They must not have had a visa cancelled or a prior application rejected.
Process: The Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 173) is assessed in two stages:
- First, the applicant checks eligibility and applies for this visa category. With this, they pay the first instalment of the visa fee. Then the visa application is assessed and either added to the queue or refused.
- If the application has been queued then the applicant needs to wait for a place to become available.
- Second, once the place is available, visa application is once again assessed and applicants are required to pay the second instalment of the visa fee. During this stage decision is made and a visa is granted.
Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)
The Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143) is a permanent Australia Parent Visa that allows parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents to reside permanently in Australia. This visa allows parents to live in Australia permanently, access healthcare services, and work in the country. It also provides an opportunity for parents to reunite with their families and enjoy the Australian way of life. The application process for this visa can be complex and time-consuming, so it is recommended to seek professional guidance to ensure a smooth and successful application.
Duration: The visa is permanent and allows applicants to move to or stay in Australia as a permanent resident.
Cost: The cost of a Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143) is AUD 48,365, which is approx. 26.3 Lakhs in Indian Rupees. Applicants pay for this visa in two instalments.
Processing Time: The processing time for this visa is slightly longer because of the high demand in this visa category. The 2017 applications are still in line, with an estimated processing time of approximately 12 years.
Benefits: Here are the major benefits of this visa category:
- Applicant can stay, work and study in Australia indefinitely
- They are eligible to enrol in Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
- They can sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia after the visa is granted
- Applicants can also apply for Australian Citizenship after visa is granted
- Travel in and out of Australia for an initial 5 years of visa, after that applicants are required RRV.
- They can submit an application for the Permanent Contributory visa (subclass 143) while holding a Contributory visa (temporary) (subclass 173).
- Applicants are eligible to apply for the visa whether they are inside or outside Australia.
- The main applicant can also include other family members in the application.
Requirements: Applicants and their sponsored children must meet specific requirements to be eligible for this visa category.
- The applicant must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor to apply for this visa
- They are required to fulfil the balance-of-family test. According to this test, applicants must ensure that at least half of their children and step-children qualify as eligible children. Alternatively, they can apply if more eligible children of the applicant are living in Australia than in any other single country.
- Meet the health requirements along with having health insurance.
- Applicant must be of good character with no criminal record, proved through a Police Clearance Certificate
- Must have an assurance of support, it ensures that the applicant will not need to depend on government assistance
- They must not have had a visa cancelled or a prior application rejected
The conditions as well as process of this visa category are similar to the Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 173). This was the overview of Know about Australian Parent visas (Subclass 173, 143 and 870).